[OOC: We paused our exchange in case Hiromi would want to chime in.]

[OOC]
Sorry.  Didn't want to interrupt, but I should just jump in.  I will from now on.

[IC]
Hiromi scoffs, "The physical move wasn't bad, remember how mom reacted to us moving here.  We still get warnings from Dad and Mom about guns and criminals.  'You're by yourselves.  Don't stay out late.' Yet in France, we would walk in at 2 AM after an event and neither of them would make a fuss.  I mean, yeah...things are different, but I guess they make more out of it than we do."

Rei smiles, "There are vast differences. The way American businesses treat their employees is abhorrent. We follow the norms of France as often as we can."

Then Rei says, "Mother tried to convince us to move to Tokyo to the Roussea Asia offices, but I refused. I wanted to go somewhere not France or Japan. Hiromi being able to attend Northwestern for a medical degree was what I used to convince them we would be fine here."

Cathrin can't help but grin at Hiromis words. Parents!

"Good to know", she replies to Rei with a smile.

"Is it really that bad? I got the impression that it's less safe in certain parts of the city than I am used to. But I've got no real experience, yet."

Rei shakes her head, "Chicago is no different than any other major city in the world. There are less than savory places within it just as there are in Paris or Tokyo."

"So it was just bad luck to arrive in Chicago basically in the middle of a fight or pursuit between metas", Cathrin says with a wry smile. "Good to know."


OOC:
Assuming "Meta" is no negative term but the standard word for, well, metas. Otherwise Cathrin would have used something else.

Also, I assumed there are not as many (known) metas in Hamburg?

Rei asks, "You arrived during the running fight between Interceptor-X and Diablo and Ghost I joined in on?"

Cathrin nods slowly. "It was in the news when I was on my way from the airport. Interceptor-X was mentioned. You were involved, too?" The way she is asking it's pure curiosity, not a hint of disbelief.

Rei nods, "I knocked out Diablo and disabled the boat and crew that was to be the escape for Ghost and Diablo. Interceptor-X then dealt with Ghost. Shortly after, they were taken into custody by the Chicago Police and the ACTPE."

"Nice!" Cathrin seems to be impressed. "I just hope they will be kept somewhere where they can't cause trouble for a while."

"What did they want, by the way, if I might ask? Are they just some troublemakers?" 'Or is there something more' hangs in the air, unspoken. There might be metas who just use their powers for doing 'mischief', but two of them working together just for that sounds unlikely, somehow.

Rei replies, "ACTPE took Diablo and Ghost and the Nazi relics and documents stolen were taken by the Chicago Police. My guess is that they were hired to steal them, but I have no idea for who or why."

"Nazi relics?" Cathrin frowns. "Maybe some crazy collector of such stuff", she muses and shrugs. There are still people believing that these times were good ones for some reason after all. "There are people paying a good deal of money for some of the old stuff, as far as I know."

Rei shrugs, "That is for the police to investigate."

Cathrin nods. Nothing more to add there.

"In your experience... are there more metas over here, in Chicago, as there are in, for example, Paris? I certainly can't remember a chase like that one happening over in Hamburg. Not in the news at least." Cathrin hesitates, then adds apologetically: "I'm sorry. Sometimes I'm just asking too many questions."

"There are definitely more superhumans here in the United States. There should be more in China, but this is where supers seem to have originated in greater numbers than any other nation. I have no idea why."

"Interesting." Cathrin leans back in her seat for a moment. It seems as if Chicago is even more different, and interesting, than she thought at first.

In reply to Dichlan (msg # 42):

[OOC]
"Metas", "super human", "the enhanced"...I've used at one time or another.  None are necessarily negative.  But we all know people that have say, "You Americans..." and we know that somehow they spelled 'American' with four letters.

The term "mutant" really isn't used, although there are mutants.  Doesn't mean that it won't change.  "Muties" I think I did use (maybe not in this game thus far...thinking...focus has not been on that) and that is negative for sure.

Having said all that...homophobic, transphobic, racist, and all other variations exist, but I'll never make it about the words (or try not to).  It can come out in the game, as long as we don't dwell on it and keep it up.

As to Hamburg, there are metas and you can generally figure that the number is a ratio to the population to any given area.  The ratio has never been established, but it is known (in the game) China has the largest number of metas, as that is proportional to population (India is not far behind).  Larger countries (tending to have more resources) will have a high ratio (Russia, US, EU in general, etc.) but still lessor number than China (more idle rich, more government experimentation, etc.).

Also remember a meta can run the gambit from being able to see things in slow motion (make a really good umpire...one of my all time favorite comics) to Superman.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:42, Tue 13 July 2021.

[OOC] Thanks!
And of course Cathrin didn't make it sound like an insult ;)
By the way, furniture makes good swear words for kids. Try "Klappstuhl" or "Chaiselounge" ;)

Maybe there weren't so many of the obvious ones, at least not active in a way Cathrin has noticed.

[OOC: In my own supers setting, population determines the number of superhumans, but most are relatively low powered with enhanced physical attributes the most common.
While China and India have a greater number of superhumans (with no hard numbers on supers in some nations like China and Russia), the U.S. has the highest number of extremely powerful superhumans with no known explanation in universe.
Several people and organizations have their own explanations that amazingly fit their own particular ideologies.
Funny how that works.]

Hiromi adds, "We had a conversation in class once and as far as anything authorities have seen, radioactivity/chemical exposure is a factor, but it can be just as detrimental as beneficial.  'Guided' exposure tends to create more beneficial changes."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:07, Tue 13 July 2021.

"Of course there have been experiments", Cathrin says with a slight frown.


OOC:
And now I wonder how German history books would talk of Blitzen and Comet :-D

Rei sighs, "At one point or another, every nation has attempted to create a super soldier. Anything can be weaponized with enough twisted imagination."

Cathrin nods. There is not much to add to that. At least if the conversation isn't supposed to delve into even darker territory.

Upon arrival, Rei tell the driver, "Take your lunch, Simon. Be back in two hours, please."

Once inside, Rei orders both appetizers, Fire Rangoon and Crispy Chicken Spring Rolls, The Viet noodle box, and an Orange Bang to drink.

Once at a table she asks, "Was it difficult for you to find a place here, Cathrin?"

In reply to Mindstrike (msg # 58):

"Captain America is hot," Hiromi says in a sing-song voice.